Easily carried tobogganlike structure

ABSTRACT

An easily transported and foldable tobogganlike structure or carryall comprising several hingedly attached panel members having a tobogganlike configuration and preferably of a lightweight material such as aluminum with a pair of carrying means which permits the structure to be easily carried on the back of a hunter, hiker or the like for use in primarily snowcovered environs.

llnited States Patent Inventor Richard Boe Stay, Wyo. Appl. No. 857,773 Filed Sept. 15, 1969 Patented Dec. 7, 197! Assignees Bernard T. McManus;

Gordon Shipman part interest to each EASILY CARRIED TOBOGGAN-LIKE STRUCTURE 8 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 280/18, 224/25 A Int. Cl B62b 13/16 Field of Search 280/18, 19, 20, 24; 224/25, 9

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Barry et a1.

Scott Primary Examiner-Benjamin Hersh Assistant Examiner-Robert R. Song Attorney-Donald M. Cislo ABSTRACT: An easily transported and foldable tobogganlike structure or carryall comprising several hingedly attached panel members having a tobogganlike configuration and preferably of a lightweight material such as aluminum with a pair of carrying means which permits the structure to be easily carried on the back of a hunter, .hiker or the like for use in primarily snow-covered environs.

1 EASILY CARRIED TOBOGGAN-LIKE STRUCTURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention pertains to easily asportable, foldable tobogganlike structures or carryalls which may be used for conventional tobogganing activities or ideally by sportsmen and the like for bringing their game out of the bush. The structure, in an exemplary embodiment, comprises a tobogganlike configuration having two or three panels which are hingedly connected to one another and which takes the configuration of the normally seen toboggan. The first panel of the toboggan structure is provided with a pair of spaced and aligned holes or apertures which allow for the attachment, as by conventional wingnuts and associated bolts, of a pair of carrying means of eanelike shape, which once secured to the underside of the first panel of the tobogganlike structure, permits easy transporting of the devices of this invention in the back pack fashion. Preferably, the structures are made of lightweight material such as aluminum, although other materials of construction are also contemplated. The devices, because of their collapsible nature, are easily stowable and may be put on the back of a hunter, for instance, when he goes hunting into snow-covered bush country in order to extricate his kill from the hunting grounds to more accessible areas.

As far as it is known, the prior art has never suggested specific types of structures as disclosed herein, wherein an easily carried tobogganlike structure or carryall, is easily carried on the back of a human being and is of light weight and simple, sturdy construction. The devices, because of their compact nature and hinged panel configuration, provide a means for passage over snow-covered ground, for instance, simply and efficaciously without attendant problems normally associated with such structures. While the devices of this invention will normally be used in snow-covered areas, they may also find utility on other than snow-covered areas as, for instance, where grass, long or short, is encountered or any other type of terrain wherein the light weight, easily carried compact carryall structure or amusement device is desired to be used.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Basically, in an exemplary form, this invention pertains to an asportable and foldable toboggan or carryall structure comprising at least a first substantially flat panel which is hingedly connected to a second flat panel having at the free end thereof an upturned curvilinear portion much like that seen in conventional toboggans. This free edge portion, however, differs in the respect that it has an underturned edge thereby forming a retaining elongated channel or slot to receive a length of towline therein. The second panel is provided with a pair of spaced and aligned apertures or holes to receive holding means therethrough, such as bolts and associated nuts. These are provided to accommodate a pair of cane-shaped members each of which are adapted to be secured to the underside of the second panel by the holding means, the caneshaped members being of a configuration to permit carrying of the structure in the folded state on the back of a human being. In other forms, the foldable toboggan structure has three panels which makes for a longer device, however, the length of the panels themselves may take various forms so long as the basic principles of the invention are adhered to in order to achieve the desired end results. These features, as well as others, will readily make themselves known to those of skill in the art when considering the following commentary taken in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2. is a side-view of the device pictured in FIG. I as it would appear on flat terrain;

FIG. 3 is a view of the device of this invention as depicted in FIG. I as it would appear on nonplanar terrain;

FIG. 4 is a top-view of the device depicted in FIG. l;

FIG. 5 is a view taken along the lines 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side-view of a device as depicted in FIG. I in folded state; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a two-paneled structure in conjunction with the carrying means which provides for ease of asportability of the devices of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals of reference designate like elements throughout, it will be seen that the device 2 is of tobogganlike configuration and in the specific embodiment depicted, the toboggan or carryall 2 comprises a first panel 4 which is substantially fiat except for the upturned curvilinear portion 6 which takes the form of the conventionally seen toboggan. The free edge of the curvilinear portion 6 is turned over to form an elongated slot or retaining channel 8 which may be used to retain a towline such as 10 therein. Panel 4 is provided with a pair of spaced and aligned holes 12 and 14 for reasons which will hereinafter become apparent. In the embodiment depicted herein, the structure 2 is fabricated of a lightweight metal such as aluminum but other materials of construction are contemplated such as plastics etc. Hingedly connected to panel 4, by means of hinge plate and pin assembly 16, is a second panel 18 which may be of any length depending upon the overall length of the device 2 desired. However, in the example depicted, panel 18 is approximately as long as the planar portion of panel 4. In similar fashion, hingedly connected to panel 18 by means of hinge structure 20, is a third panel 22 which again may be of any desired length but in the form depicted is approximately the same length as panel 18. The free edge or extreme end panel 22 is curled over to fonn an upturned end 24 which in this particular instance serves several ends. The provision of the upturned end 24 where the article 2 is made of metal, insures that a sharp metal edge will not cut the user of the tobogganlike structure 2 when in use, and also prevents, to some extent, where the device is used in snow-covered terrain, the disposition of snow onto the upper surface of panel 22.

.It should be noted that the elongated retaining channel or slot 8, in addition to providing a retaining means for retaining towline 10 (of rope or other materials) securely fixed to the structure 2, also conceals the rough or cut free edge of panel 4 where the material is metal. It will be seen that the device 2, when being pulled on flat terrain, has each of the panels 4, l8 and 22, in substantially the same plane (FIG. 2) but where the terrain becomes more rough and uneven, the hinged configuration allows the panels to conform to the terrain as shown in FIG. 3. This has the attraction of allowing the toboggan or carryall 2 to conform as nearly as practical to the terrain over which it is pulled. This, then prevents undue buckling or bending of the individual panels, especially where a heavy load is being carried or dragged thereon and, consequently, the panels 4, l8 and 22 will not then be in the same plane as is readily seen in FIG. 3.

The means of securing the panels to one another as indicated earlier, are by means of the conventional hinge plate 16 which of course may employ the interacting tongue and groovelike construction which retains one panel to the other by means of the plate 16 and a rod or pin I7 passing therethrough as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The hinged structure also allows the tobogganlike carryall to be folded upon itself as seen in FIG. 6 with the second panel being folded forwardly onto the upper surface of panel 4 while the third panel 22 is folded on top of the second panel 18. The towline 10, for instance, may then be wrapped around the folded sections in order to provide a compact easily carried tobogganlike structure. To this end and illustrating still another fonn of the device wherein only two panels are used, reference is now made to FIG. 7. As indicated earlier, panel 4 is provided with the pair of aligned holes such as 12 and 114 so that there may be secured to the underside of panel 4, a pair of canelike members 26 and 28 which are secured to panel 4 by means of wingnuts 30 and associated bolts, not shown, disposed through the holes provided in the members 26 and 28 for that purpose and of course the aligned pair of holes 12 and 14. So as to make the toboggans, either as depicted in FIG 1 having three panels, or such as the two panel structure 32 depicted in FIG. 7, more easily asportable and comfortable to carry, the numbers 26 and 28 are provided with flattened end portions such as 34 and 36, so as not to dig into the back of the person carrying the folded toboggan. Rubber-end members such as 38 and 40 may be provided where the members 26 and 28 are made of metal, so as not to bare a sharp edge of metal to cause discomfort to the user of the device or quite possibly cause an unsafe condition to exist. The members 26 and 28 as well as either of the devices illustrated, may take varying shapes and sizes depending upon the end results desired. it is, of course, obvious that the carrying members 26 and 28 are attached to the three panel device 2 in identical manner as it is attached to the two panel device 32.

As earlier indicated, the tobogganlike carryalls or structures of this invention are intended to be made of a light weight material such as aluminum or plastic and where plastics are used, it is of course, obvious that the hinged structure must be modified to accommodate same. In other words, instead of using a metal hinge plate such as 16 which may be secured to adjacent panels by brazing, welding or other such means of securement, plastic hinge members and pins may be uses where the materials of construction for the toboggan panels are of plastic. Additionally, other materials of construction such as wood and fiberglass may be found to present certain attributes under some conditions.

As can be seen, there has now been disclosed a tobogganlike structure which is easily asportable; may be made in one or more sizes and which, in the collapsed form, may be carried easily in the car trunk, for instance, or on a snowmobile; may be easily carried by hunters, rescue teams, linemen, skiers, etc. and which may be pressed into service to carry supplies or game from the bush or may be used for purely amusement purposes. Several modifications can be made in the specific examples of the structures of this invention described and illustrated herein, all of which will come within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

I. An easily carried and foldable tobogganlike or carryall structure comprising at least a first substantially flat panel hingedly connected to a second flat panel, having at the free end thereof an upturned curvilinear portion with an underturned edge at the end thereof to thereby form an elongated retaining slot or channel to retain a length of towline therein, said panels being capable of being folded one upon the other to thereby form a compact easily carried structure, said second panel being provided with a pair of spaced and aligned holes to receive carrying means comprising a pair of cane-shaped members each of which is detachable secured to the underside of said second panel by retaining means, said cane-shaped members being of a configuration to permit carrying of said structure in the folded state on the back of a human being.

2. The device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the shape of said second panel at the curvilinear portion thereof is of a configuration such as to lower the resistance of said device to passage through a medium such as snow.

3. The device in accordance with claim 1 which additionally includes a third panel which is hingedly connected to said first panel and having an upturned curled-over free edge thereon.

4. The device in accordance with claim 3 which additionally includes a towline of sufficient length capable of being wrapped around said device at least once to retain the folded panels upon one another in substantially rigid relationship.

5. The device in accordance with claim 4 wherein the materials of construction are light weight metal such as aluminum.

6. The device in accordance with claim 5 wherein said retaining means comprise wingnuts and associated through bolts whereby said device in the folded and collapsed state is secured to said cane-shaped members.

7. The device in accordance with claim 4 wherein the materials of construction are plastic.

8. The device in accordance with claim 6 wherein each of said cane members is provided with a rubber-tipped end at the outer extremity thereof and the other end is of somewhat flattened configuration so as to provide ease of carrying said structures when in the folded state. 

1. An easily carried and foldable tobogganlike or carryall structure comprising at least a first substantially flat panel hingedly connected to a second flat panel, having at the free end thereof an upturned curvilinear portion with an underturned edge at the end thereof to theReby form an elongated retaining slot or channel to retain a length of towline therein, said panels being capable of being folded one upon the other to thereby form a compact easily carried structure, said second panel being provided with a pair of spaced and aligned holes to receive carrying means comprising a pair of cane-shaped members each of which is detachable secured to the underside of said second panel by retaining means, said cane-shaped members being of a configuration to permit carrying of said structure in the folded state on the back of a human being.
 2. The device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the shape of said second panel at the curvilinear portion thereof is of a configuration such as to lower the resistance of said device to passage through a medium such as snow.
 3. The device in accordance with claim 1 which additionally includes a third panel which is hingedly connected to said first panel and having an upturned curled-over free edge thereon.
 4. The device in accordance with claim 3 which additionally includes a towline of sufficient length capable of being wrapped around said device at least once to retain the folded panels upon one another in substantially rigid relationship.
 5. The device in accordance with claim 4 wherein the materials of construction are light weight metal such as aluminum.
 6. The device in accordance with claim 5 wherein said retaining means comprise wingnuts and associated through bolts whereby said device in the folded and collapsed state is secured to said cane-shaped members.
 7. The device in accordance with claim 4 wherein the materials of construction are plastic.
 8. The device in accordance with claim 6 wherein each of said cane members is provided with a rubber-tipped end at the outer extremity thereof and the other end is of somewhat flattened configuration so as to provide ease of carrying said structures when in the folded state. 